Skype’s new notification panel comes to Windows 10 for Insiders

Microsoft is bringing its contentious skype design to Windows 10 piecemeal. A week ago, the firm brought the new design to PCs on Linux, MacOS, Windows 8.1 and below, but users of Windows 10 have a bit longer to wait. Microsoft is — for some reason– not bringing this design to Windows 10 just yet, but introducing elements of its design piece by piece.

This new design adds the notifications panel introduced on iOS and Android to Skype for Windows 10. Chatting is also faster and more WhatsApp like as you don’t have to add someone as a friend, just chat with them like you would normally on any other messaging app. Here’s the changelog (via Aggiornamenti Lumia):

Stay up to date with the help of the Notifications panel: Quickly return to your conversations to see the reactions to your messages and memos

Instant Chat: You no longer need to add your friends as contacts. Just find them on Skype and start chat one to one or a group conversation

Express your mood during a call with emoticons, reactions, text or photos

Share your virtual world and your business with other users through a Skype video chat in Windows Mixed Reality

Skype for Windows 10 is available from the Windows 10 here for Insiders. If you aren’t an insider, but still want to try out the new app, The good folks over at Aggiornamenti Lumia have uploaded the APPX file to MEGA, which you can snag from the first “via” link above.